Amusement apparatus.



No. 728,894. PATENTED MAY 26, 1903.. T. FOLKS.

AMUSEMENT APPARTUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 16.1903. I0 MODEL. 7 a'snBnTs-snnn'r 1.

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No. 728,894. I PATENTED MAY 26, 1903. W

' T. FOLKS.

AMUSEMENT APPARTUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1903- H0 MODEL. v 3 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

PATENTED MAY26, 1903.

T. FOLKS. AMUSEMENT APPARTUS.

APPLIGAHOH FILED MAR. 16, 1903.

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Unrrnn STATES iatented May 26, 1903.

THOMAS FOLKS OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,894, dated May 26, 1903 Application filed March 16, 1903. Serial No. 148,129. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS FOLKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an amusement apparatus wherein persons can be conveyed in boats over a course of Water contained in an inclined canal or fiume in the course of which is constructed one or more inclines having an ascending track and a descending track over which said boats pass in their course through said canal or flume, in which a current has been obtained and can be maintained for any desired time by the assistance of a paddlewheel or any other desired means.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction and operation hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the following description like letters refer to like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing incline. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of ascending track IV and base H and its connections, together with endless chain K. Fig. 4 is a plan of foot Hand its connections. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section of fiume P and foot H at its beginning, showing lever F, connecting-rod E, chainway T, guide plates V, cams G, shaft (1, and

sprocket-wheel R. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of boat, showing hinge N, with finger J, connected with endless chain K; Fig. 8, a view of stern of boat provided with hinge N, having finger J.

In my invention an inclined endless fiume P is provided, the drop in said fiume being about two inches to each one hundred feet in length, which unavoidably causes a lower level A and an upper level B where said fiume is joined. In the course of said fiume an incline A is built, having an ascending track WV and a descending track Y, the lower end of said ascending track and the lower end of said descending track being built directly in said flume. A base or foot H is pivotally connected to the lower end of said ascending track IV by means of hinges M and provided with lever D, connecting-rod E, lever F, shaft 0, cams G, counterbalance L, sprocket-wheel R, chainway T, and guideplates V. At the top of said incline A is fixed a sprocket-wheelS. An endless chain K passes up the ascending track W and over said sprocket-wheel S, down the under side of said incline, and around sprocket-wheel R.

In the operation of my invention the flume P is about half filled with water, into which a boat having hinge N, with finger J, is placed with its bow placed as indicated by arrow. The machinery being started in motion, Water is taken from the lower level A and deposited in the upper level B by paddle-wheel O or any other desired means, whereby a current is obtained, when the boat, actuated by said current, floats around in said flume P and over the base or foot H, when the bow of said boat comes in contact with lever D, which is carried forward and by means of connecting-rod E carries lever F forward, thereby raising the back end of base or foot H by means of cams G, when finger .I drops into link of chain K, by means of which said boat is carried. to the top of incline W, when finger J is released from chain K and the boat by gravity runs down track Y to the water below and continues on its journey to the place of starting.

I am aware there are devices in which there are inclines having ascending tracks and descending tracks up which boats are carried and allowed to run down bygravityintoabody of water below and that there are inclined flumes containing water in which boats are floated by means of an artificial current. These broadly I do not claim; but

What I do claim, and desire to have secured by Letters Patent, is

1. An amusement apparatus having a continuous inclined fiume or canal, in combination with an incline having an ascending track and a descending track, the lower ends of said ascending track, and descending track being built directly in said continuous fiume substantially as described.

2. An amusement apparatus having a continuous inclined canal or flume, in combination with an incline having an ascending track, and a descending track, the lower ends of said ascending track, and descending track being built in said continuous Hume, the lower end of said ascending track having pivotally connected thereto, a vertically-movable base or foot, substantially as described.

3. An amusement apparatus having a continuous inclined canal or flume, in combination with an incline having an ascending track, and a descending track, the lower ends of said ascending track and said descending track being built in said continuous fiume; the lower end of said ascending track having pivotally connected thereto a vertically-movable base or foot H having lever-arm F connected thereto mounted on shaft-carrying cams G for the purpose set forth and substantially as described.

4. An amusement apparatus having a continuous inclined canal or fluine, in combination with an .incline having an ascending track and a descending track, the lower ends of said ascending track and descending track being built in said continuous flume, the lower end of said ascending track having pivotally connected thereto a vertically-movable base or foot H having lever-arm F connected thereto, mounted on shaft-carrying cams G;

said base or foot also being provided with" counterbalance L for the purpose set forth, and substantially as described.

5. An amusement apparatus having a continuous inclined canal or flume in combination with an incline having an ascending track and a descending track, the lower ends vaassa of said ascending track and said descending track being built in said continuous flume, the lower end of said ascending track having pivotally connected thereto a vertically-movable base or foot H having lever-arm F connected thereto, mounted in shaft carrying cams G, said base or foot being provided also with lever-arms D which are connected to lever-arms F by means of connecting-rods E for the purpose set forth and substantially as de-- scribed. I

6. An amusement apparatus having a continuous inclined canal or iiume in combination with an incline having an ascending track and a descending track, the lower ends of said ascending track and said descending track being built in said continuous Home, the lower end of said ascending track having pivotally connected thereto a vertically-movable base or foot H having lever-arms F connected thereto, mounted on shaft-carrying cams G, said base'or foot being provided also with lever-arms D which are connected to lever F by means of connecting-rods E; said base is also provided with counterbalance L for the purpose set forth substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 6th day of March, 1903.

THOMAS FOLKS. Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. Moon, LAURA'YoUNes 

